E. Salary Changes

The Supreme Court may authorize a general alteration in the salary schedule based upon appropriations made available. When such an "across the board" adjustment is authorized, all employees subject to the salary schedule shall receive an alteration in salary in the amount authorized.

The Supreme Court may authorize other salary increases to employees, subject to the following conditions:

1. Funds are available;

2. Employees at or above the maximum rate, employees on disciplinary probation, employees who are serving their original provisional period, and temporary employees are not eligible; except, beginning January 1, 2001, an employee at or above the maximum rate may be eligible for a longevity increase if during the previous year (prior to the first of January) the employee has experienced an anniversary with the court system of 20 or more total service years that is divisible by 5, as established by his/her service anniversary date. For each of those anniversaries, an additional $50 a month will be added to the base salary of those eligible employees who are at the maximum rate. For eligible employees over the maximum rate the longevity increase will be reduced by the amount their salary exceeds the maximum rate and added to the base salary. Eligible part-time employees will receive increases on a prorated basis. In no event will salaries be reduced. No additional amount will be given to those employees with salaries over the maximum rate already receiving the amount equal to or greater than the longevity increase.

3. Such salary increases require the acceptable performance (Satisfactory or better on a performance report) of the employee and approval of the supervisor. Acceptable performance of the employee must be documented in a current annual performance evaluation on file in the Administrative Office at least 30 days prior to the salary increase. If an employee receives an unacceptable performance evaluation, the employee, after 90 days or more, may request another evaluation. If that evaluation indicates acceptable performance, the salary increase may then be given to the employee with the approval of the supervisor.

The Supreme Court may authorize specific alterations of salary grades to reflect labor market conditions, based upon salary survey information. When any such alteration is authorized, all employees subject to that salary grade shall receive an alteration in salary of the amount authorized on the effective date of the alteration.